On April 10th: OPRF High School Hosts `Parent University’

Raising teens and tweens in a digital world is at the heart of this year’s “Parent University,” a free event on Wednesday, April 10th at Oak Park and River Forest High School, 201 N. Scoville Ave.

Open to parents from Oak Park, River Forest and surrounding communities, the event from 6 to 8:30 p.m. is organized by the D200 Mental Wellness Collaborative, consisting of a variety of local government and social service agencies.

The evening will provide options that individuals and families can tailor to their needs and interests. Local private grade, middle and high schools are also invited, as are home-schooling families.

Keynote speaker Dr. Devorah Heitner, author of Growing Up in Public: Coming of Age in a Digital World, will share practical, timely and non-judgmental advice about technology and parenting in the digital age.

For anyone who has ever thought “I’m so glad my teenage years weren’t shared for the world to see,” Dr. Heitner’s talk is for you. Before her 6:15 p.m. talk, Heitner will be available to sign her book, which will be available for sale by The Book Table.

Among the questions she addresses: Should you read your kids’ texts? How do you help your teen or tween be authentic when everything can be shared and compared? Do colleges really stalk kids on social media?

From 7:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., attendees can choose between "Communicating with Your Teen Without Money, Magic, or Eye Rolls” from NAMI Metro Suburban Family Support Specialist Trina Bockus, and "In and Out of School: Students and a Positive Mindset" from Thrive Clinical Director Dr. Sarah Wiemeyer.

Refreshments will be provided throughout the evening.

In addition to Oak Park and River Forest residents, the April 10th session is open to anyone from surrounding communities.

To register, go to https://tinyurl.com/ParentU2024.

Anyone with questions is encouraged to e-mail Kris Johnson, OPRF Director of Student Services, at kjohnson@oprfhs.org. For more information, including descriptions of Dr. Heitner’s keynote and the two workshops, visit https://tinyurl.com/ParentUSummary.

The D200 Wellness Collaborative includes River Forest Township, Oak Park Township, District 200 (OPRF High), District 97 (Oak Park schools, kindergarten through 8th grade) and District 90 (River Forest schools, kindergarten through 8th grade).

Also part of the Collaborative are the Community Mental Health Board of Oak Park Township, Oak Park Public Library, Thrive Counseling Center and the Metro Suburban chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).